“It’s in my genes”.
Sounds familiar? It’s the excuse used by scores of humans as they try to hand off their shortcomings, deficiencies and other health issues to the bad decisions of their forefathers. Well, not so fast! Key lifestyle changes, a diet based on natural foods and regular exercise can overcome the most severe of genetic traits that you may think you have acquired.
“Control Your DNA Destiny” reads the Self Magazine headline on MSNBC Health that gives you tips to follow from head to toe. From your heart and skin to your brain and lungs, the right choice in your everyday decisions can vastly improve your odds of beating your genetic make-up. For example although it’s known that stopping smoking improves your chances of avoiding lung cancer, other steps could help too:
The best way to prevent lung cancer is to kick the habit and avoid secondhand smoke: Nonsmokers have a 20 percent to 30 percent greater chance of developing the disease if they’re exposed to smoke at home or work, according to a Surgeon General’s report. And test your home for radon, an odorless gas released from rocks and soil that’s linked to up to 14 percent of all lung cancer deaths each year. [MSNBC Health]
As for your brain, while it’s certainly true, that memory is dependent on DNA, “use it or lose it” is equally true. Other things to try:
The best way to maintain a sharp mind is to keep both your brain and body busy. “Exercise helps prevent plaque buildup in your brain that has been linked to Alzheimer’s, while mental stimulation keeps neurons firing away,” Dr. Tan says. One activity that gets you moving and thinking: dancing, which was linked to a 76 percent reduced risk for dementia [...] [MSNBC Health]
So it looks like whatever your genetic composition might be, there is always something you can do to positively change the effect of your genes on your way of life.
Allwe need is the will to want to overcome our genes.
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The only thing in our genes are bad eating and exercise habits. Genes can be overcome with a little discipline.